Surface Pro OLED - It's Almost Perfect!

Summary

The Surface Pro OLED, powered by the new Snapdragon X Elite processor, delivers impressive performance in a sleek, lightweight design. With a stunning 120 Hz OLED display and excellent battery life of around 13.5 hours, it stands out for creative professionals. The Flex Keyboard enhances usability, but some users may notice a screen door effect when reading text. While gaming capabilities are limited due to anti-cheat restrictions, the device excels in productivity tasks. Despite its premium price over $2,000, the Surface Pro OLED offers a unique all-in-one experience, though the Surface Pro LCD could be a more budget-friendly alternative.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The new Surface Pro OLED features a Snapdragon X Elite processor, offering improved performance compared to previous models.
• 💻 There are two variants available: the Snapdragon X+ for the LCD version and the Snapdragon X Elite for the OLED version.
• ⚡ The Snapdragon X Elite's dual-core boost significantly enhances single-core performance, rivaling the MacBook Air with M3.
• 🔌 The Surface Pro OLED comes with a 39W charger, which limits its performance, but it still operates effectively within this power constraint.
• 🎨 The device excels in creative tasks, performing well in applications like Photoshop and Da Vinci Resolve.
• 🎮 Although not a gaming laptop, it can run some games like OverWatch with limitations, but many popular titles are incompatible due to anti-cheat systems.
• 📊 The laptop handles everyday tasks well, making it suitable for drawing, browsing, and using Microsoft Office.
• 🔋 Battery life is impressive, reaching around 13 hours, closely aligning with Microsoft's claims of 14 hours.
• ⌨️ The Flex keyboard cover enhances user experience with its spacious, clicky keys and improved haptic touchpad.
• 🖊️ The Slim Pen 2 provides a natural writing experience with haptic feedback, making it feel more like writing on paper.
• 🌈 The OLED display boasts excellent color accuracy and brightness, but some users may notice a screen door effect when reading text.

Q & A

What makes the Surface Pro OLED different from previous versions?

The Surface Pro OLED features a new Snapdragon X Elite processor designed specifically for thin devices, offering better performance and efficiency compared to earlier processors.

What are the two processor variants available in the Surface Pro?

There are two variants: the Snapdragon X+ chip for the LCD version and the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite for the Surface Pro OLED.

How does the Snapdragon X Elite perform compared to competitors?

The Snapdragon X Elite shows impressive performance, particularly in single-core tasks, closely matching the MacBook Air with M3 and outperforming Intel and AMD processors in several benchmarks.

What is the significance of the 39W charger for the Surface Pro OLED?

The 39W charger limits the power the Snapdragon X Elite can utilize, which can restrict performance in demanding scenarios, but the device still performs well given its low wattage.

Can the Surface Pro OLED be used for gaming?

While the Surface Pro OLED is not designed as a gaming laptop, it can run games like Overwatch with reduced performance if super resolution is disabled, but titles with strict anti-cheat systems like Valorant cannot be played.

What are the notable features of the keyboard cover for the Surface Pro?

The flex keyboard cover offers a spacious and clicky typing experience, a haptic touchpad, and customizable backlighting, although it may occasionally require reattachment to be recognized by the operating system.

How does the writing experience with the Slim Pen 2 compare to the Apple Pencil?

Many users, especially left-handed ones, find the Slim Pen 2 feels more natural to hold than the Apple Pencil, and its haptic feedback enhances the drawing experience by mimicking the feel of writing on paper.

What issues might users face with the OLED display?

Some users may notice a screen door effect, where white text appears grainy, particularly when reading, due to the touch sensitivity of the OLED screen.

What is the expected battery life of the Surface Pro OLED?

Microsoft advertises the battery life at 14 hours, and users have reported approximately 13 hours and 33 minutes in real-world usage, which is quite good for a device of this type.

What limitations exist in terms of software compatibility on the Snapdragon X Elite?

Some x86 applications, including certain Adobe products, may not run on the Snapdragon X Elite due to compatibility issues, although an ARM version of Adobe Premiere Pro is expected to be released soon.